Enabling DHCP on Your Windows Computer

Heads up! This is an older guide

This guide was created or last modified prior to 2019, and screenshots or individual steps may now be out of date. If you need assistance with the steps below, please email the Help Desk at ts@dornsife.usc.edu.

Over the next few months, ITS will be performing upgrades to the USC network. The goal of the upgrade project is to improve network service for both wired and wireless connections, resulting in significant improvements to network bandwidth, availability, stability, and security. Users in this building will see improvement in network performance immediately after the planned upgrade.

The network upgrades require changes to be made to your computer. These changes are related to the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) settings, which handles how an IP address is assigned to your computer. The DHCP changes to your computer should be made immediately. If the DHCP changes are not made, your computer will not be able to access the Internet after the network upgrade occurs.

This document details how to make the appropriate changes. If you have any questions about the upgrade project or about making the DHCP changes, please contact 213-740-2775 or email ts@dornsife.usc.edu.

Enabling DHCP

Complete the following steps to enable DHCP on your Windows 7, 8, or 10, computer.

Open the Control Panel.
- Windows 7: Select the Start menu and then select the Control Panel.
- Windows 8, 10: Select the Start menu and then begin typing Control Panel. The Control Panel will appear as a search result.
- Select the Control Panel from the search results listing.
After opening the Control Panel, select the Network and Sharing Center option. The Network and Sharing Center screen displays.
Next, select your Internet access type from the Network and Sharing Center screen.
- Windows 7: In the View your active networks section of the screen, select the Local Area Connection option. The Local Area Connection Status screen displays.
- Windows 8, 10: In the View your active networks section of the screen, select the Ethernet option. The Ethernet Status screen displays.
On the Local Area Connection Status or the Ethernet Status screen, select the Properties option. The User Account Control screen displays.
- Windows 7: Windows 7 users will see a screen similar to the following.
- Windows 8, 10: Windows 8 and 10 users will see a screen similar to the following.
Enter your Dornsife Account username and password into the appropriate fields. This is the same username and password with which you log into your computer.
- Windows 7: Windows 7 users will see a screen similar to the following.
- Windows 8, 10: Windows 8 and 10 users will see a screen similar to the following.
After entering your username and password, select the Yes option. The Local Area Connection Properties screen or the Ethernet Properties screen (depending on your version of Windows) displays.
- Windows 7: Windows 7 users will see a screen similar to the following.
- Windows 8, 10: Windows 8 and 10 users will see a screen similar to the following.
Next, select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option, located in the center of the screen.
After selecting the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option, select the Properties option. The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) screen displays.
Select the following options on the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) screen.
- Obtain an IP address automatically
- Obtain DNS server address automatically
On some computers, these options may already be selected. If they are already selected, you can close the opened screens and return to your desktop.
If you made selections on the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) screen, select the OK option to save these changes.
Close any remaining open screens and return to the desktop of your device.

Your DHCP settings have been updated. Repeat these steps on any additional Windows computers that are on the USC network.